- Keep checking back, as we update this list regularly!

Many wonderful, intuitive, gorgeous, and useful iOS apps are designed specifically with the iPad in mind.

While most apps do support the iPad, there are thousands of great apps in the Apple App Store that are meant to run on bigger screens (aka the iPad). Whether you want one for illustrating or writing essays or gaming, you have a multitude of options. There are so many it can be hard to decide which are worth trying. But we at Pocket-lint have been using the iPad faithfully since 2010.

That means we know which apps are amazing. To help clue you in, we've assembled this ultimate guide of the best iPad apps. We've arranged everything by category, too, so it should be easy to find the perfect app for your tablet.

Best iPad apps

Ikea

AR and VR (non-games)

IKEA Place

IKEA Place lets you virtually see 3D, true-to-scale IKEA products in your space. It includes most of IKEA's catalogue, like sofas and chairs, and helps you to better understand the furniture’s size, design, and functionality in your home.

Sky Walk

Star Walk is a popular stargazing app. It's an interactive guide to the night sky, following your every movement in real-time and allowing you to explore over 200,000 celestial bodies and get access to information about anything you find.

Vuforia Chalk

Vuforia Chalk combines live video, audio, and the ability for a remote person to annotate their live view. Annotations accurately stick to real-world objects, even when people move around. Imagine, for instance, using this as a field technician.

Cloud storage

Apple iCloud Drive

This is Apple's own cloud storage service. Documents, media, and folders that you store in iCloud Drive stay up to date across all of your Apple devices, so you can access them from your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac, or PC, and on iCloud.com. You get 5GB of space for free to start.

Dropbox

Dropbox lets you store files and folders to the cloud and share them, scan docs, and collaborate with others, with everything safely synced across all your devices - so you can access it anytime, anywhere. You get 2GB of space for free to start.

Google Drive

Google Drive is similar to Dropbox, only you get 15GB free to start, and it directly supports Google's entire product portfolio. You can see your Google Photos or Google Docs files, for instance, and invite others to view, edit, or leave comments.

Microsoft OneDrive

Those of you who are more tied to Microsoft's ecosystem (maybe you have a Windows 10 PC or use Office apps), should get OneDrive. It lets you access and share your documents, photos, and other files from your iOS device and computer (PC or Mac).

Dating and relationships

OKCupid

OKCupid is all about rich profiles, where you can show off your personality and interests. You can answer thousands of questions about yourself, or just a few, and it algorithm will helps you connect with people who share your passions.

Finance

YNAB

YNAB claims to help you "break the paycheck to paycheck cycle, get out of debt, and save more money". Apparently, on average, new users save $600 in the first two months, and more than $6,000 in the first year. First 30 days of use are free.

Mint

Want to see how you spend your money? Mint is the free money management and financial tracker app that bring together your bank accounts, credit cards, bills, and investments and see what you’re spending and where you can save money.

Robinhood

Robinhood lets you buy and sell stocks and exchange-traded funds without paying a commission. You can start a portfolio and invest in your favourite companies. Like Acorns, it's meant for novice investors who want to buy and trade.

Venmo

Games

Leo's Fortune

Leo's Fortune is an adorable platforming game with gorgeous stages and graphics, smart puzzles, a whimsical story, and a little fluff ball you can make float or sink to reach gold coins. It's a refreshing break from side scrollers.

Invisible

Invisible is a turn-based stealth game that generates complex levels you must navigate through to evade enemies and complete objectives. You control 10 different characters on various missions, with loads of customisation options.

Minecraft: Pocket Edition

Microsoft's hugely popular Minecraft game is available on every console and platform, including the iPad. With it, you can explore, mine, and craft away in a blocky 3D pixelated environment, letting your imagination run wild.

Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery

This is an adventure game with an odd, spooky story as well as a great soundtrack. It's pitched as a game where you traverse a mythic little realm, battle, and evoke sorcery - all while co-operating with friends via Twitter. Seriously.

Stranger Things

Love the Netflix Original series? Us too. Now, with the game, you can travel through Hawkins and use characters' weapons to battle enemies, do quests, and solve the latest supernatural mystery in everyone's favourite 80s town.

Mini Metro

Now you can finally fix the subway. Well, technically, Mini Metro will let you try to create your own subway system. It's a minimalist, yet complex, game with mind-boggling, head-scratching puzzles you got to figure out.

Red's Kingdom

Red's Kingdom is an adventure puzzle game with a sweet story and wonderful gameplay. Mad King Mac has kidnapped your father and stolen your golden nut! You need to explore and battle your way through the kingdom.

FTL: Faster Than Light

In FTL, you run a spaceship and try to save the galaxy, with every encounter presenting a unique challenge with multiple solutions. Each play-through will feature different enemies, events, and results to your decisions.

Sid Meier's Civilization VI

Darkest Dungeon:Tablet Edition

"Darkest Dungeon is a challenging turn-based RPG about the psychological stresses. You must recruit, train, and lead a team through twisted forests, crypts, and beyond, all while battling stress, famine, disease, and the dark.

The Room: Old Sins

Here is another challenging puzzle game with a captivating story: the sudden disappearance of an engineer and his wife provokes the hunt for a precious artifact that leads to the discovery of an old, unsettling dollhouse.

Hitman GO

NEO Scavenger

NEO Scavenger is a game where you must survive in the wasteland. And with each passing minute, you weaken and must choose your starting abilities carefully, "because they and your wit are the only tools you have".

The Witness

Papers Please

The communist state of Arstotzka has just ended a six-year war with its neighbor. Your job as immigration inspector is to control the flow of people entering while also deciding who will be turned away or arrested.

Alto's Odyssey

This is a sequel app to Odyseey Adventure. You play the role of a snowboarder, flying down an endless, gorgeous landscape. While Adventure had players on a cold mountain, Odyssey throws in some pastures and desert landscapes.

Clash Royale

Clash Royale is a tower rush game in which you can duel players from around the world in real-time in both 1v1 and 2v2 Battles. The objective (three minutes into the game) is to destroy opposing towers as well as the "King tower".

Fortnite

This is a Battle Royale game where you squad up and compete to be the last one standing in 100-player PvP. You're supposed to build cover, battle your opponents, and survive the longest to earn your victory.

Hearthstone

With this card battler, you're the hero who uses cards to "sling spells, summon minions, and seize control" of the battlefield. You can jump right in, build your deck, hone your skills, and fight for glory in the Arena and duel players.

LEGO AR Studio

LEGO AR Studio is an AR app that lets you play with virtual LEGO toys and sets in your real-world environment. You can move and position everything, learn details about your set, and try movie-making. You control the entire experience.

Monument Valley

This is a sequel to 2014's Monument Valley. It's an indie puzzle game, where the goal is to guide Ro and her child through mazes, optical illusions, and impossible objects in order to complete the puzzle.

Pokemon Go

This game put mobile AR experiences on the map in 2016. It allows you to be a Trainer who can search for Pokemon in the real-world, as well as do catching, hatching, evolving, and more. You can even compete in epic gym battles.

PUBG Mobile

This is a Fortnite-like Battle Royal game in which 100 players parachute onto a remote island. Players have to locate and scavenge their own weapons, vehicles, and supplies, and defeat every player to be the last one standing.

Threes

Threes is an indie puzzle game where the player slides numbered tiles on a grid to combine addends and multiples of three. The game ends when there are no moves left on the grid and the tiles are counted for a final score.

Health and fitness

Glow

Clue on the iPhone is our No. 1 suggestion, but Glow is a nice alternative on iPad. It has a menstrual and ovulation calculator that also helps women learn about their fertility, whether avoiding or attempting pregnancy.

C25K

Fertility Friend

Fertility Friend is another fertility tracker. It has an advanced ovulation calculator, menstrual calendar, fertility chart, and period tracker. Its aim is to help you get pregnant, with personalised trying-to-conceive tips and analysis.

Headspace

Headspace is a guided meditation app. The basics course is completely free and will teach you the fundamental techniques of meditation and mindfulness. After that, with a subscription, you can access the full Headspace meditation library.

Security

1Password

NordVPN

Traveling to a foreign country? Or just want to browse in peace at home? With this app, you can enjoy safe and private internet access and secure your Wi-Fi connections against various cyber threats. There's a free trial to start.

Etsy

Houzz

Houzz is your one-stop shop for improving and designing your home. Browse inspirational photos, view and buy products, hire and collaborate with professionals, get advice, read articles, and more with this handy home decor app.

ShopStyle

Wayfair

If home goods is your thing, Wayfair claims to house the world’s largest selection of home goods - with prices ranging from cheap to wow. It also has a new 3D View in Room feature that lets you see virtual items in your space.

IFTTT

Shortcuts

Shortcuts is Apple's built-in iOS tool that lets you easily get more tasks done with your apps. For example, Apple said you can build a “Surf Time” shortcut that grabs the surf report, gives an ETA to the beach, and launches your music playlist.

Google Docs

Evernote

Evernote is a popular note app. You can input typed notes or scan handwritten notes. You can also add to-do’s, photos, images, web pages, or audio, and it syncs across your devices, so your information is always with you.

Libby

Overcast

Overcast is a "modern, fully featured" podcast player that aims to let you better control your listening experience, with custom playlists, shrinked silences, an intuitive interface, and more unique features.

TED

Wolfram Alpha

Whether you need to perform high-level mathematic computations or search for facts and statistics, WolframAlpha is worth trying. It's essentially a powerful tool for finding information on math, science, and other topics.

Film and TV

Apple TV app

The Apple TV App lets you browse content from over 100 video services. You’ll find movies and shows, live sports, and news. It is available on iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV - so you can watch at home or while out and about.

HBO Now

Hulu

Hulu offers up an entire library of movies and shows (including Seinfeld, South Park, and Fear the Walking Dead) for a monthly subscription fee. For an additional cost, you get over 50 live channels, like ABC, NBC, CBS, and ESPN.

IMDb

IMDb, an Amazon company, is the an authoritative source for all-things Hollywood. Explore popular movies and TV shows and their casts, and get access to trailers, behind-the-scenes clips, and showtimes (plus buy tickets) near you.

Prime Video

YouTube TV

Like Hulu's Live TV offering, YouTube TV offers cable-free live TV, so you can stream major broadcast and networks, from ABC to ESPN. It also has cloud storage, and is a monthly pay-as-you-go membership you can cancel anytime.

Uber Eats

Messaging

Facebook Messenger

If you use Facebook, you definitely use Messenger. But it can be tied to your number, allowing you to text anyone in your friends list or contacts. You can also do video chats, complete with filters, play games, access biz chatbots, and more.

Slack

Photo and video

Apple Clips

Clips is Apple's app that allows you to easily splice together a polished video without a lot of effort. Apple already offers several video creation tools, from the high-end Final Cut Pro to iMovies. Clips is an alternative, free option.

Snapseed

Snapseed is a photo editor developed by Google. It's not Photoshop, but it's still feature-rich with tools like healing and brush. It also lets you open RAW files, use filters, and refine aspects like curves with precise control.

Apple Numbers

Apple Keynote

Next up is Apple's version of Microsoft PowerPoint. It's a free app built from the ground up for iPad. And it makes creating a professional presentation - complete with animated charts and cinematic transitions - very simple.

Google Slides

Google Calendar

Google is a powerhouse in the productivity and collaboration space, and Calendar is a prime example. It lets you view, edit, sync your schedule across platforms and devices. You can also create a team Calendar to share with others.

Focus Keeper

PCalc

PCalc is the powerful calculator - pitches at scientists, engineers, and programmers. It includes an optional RPN mode and multi-line display, a choice of button layouts, an huge set of unit conversions and constants.

Spark

If you don't want to use Apple Mail, consider Spark. It lets you discuss emails privately with teams in a thread, schedule emails, access integrations like Dropbox, use a built-in calendar, and create links to a specific email or thread.

Timepage

Todoist

Todoist is like a reminder app that helps you to keep track of everything, anywhere. Even when you’re offline. It also offers access to over 60 app integrations, including Dropbox, Amazon Alexa, Zapier, IFTTT, and Slack.

Wunderlist

Social media

Facebook

Facebook almost needs no introduction. It's probably the most popular social network in the world. Use it to connect with friends, old and new. Or, use it to view hidden ads and memes from meddlers spreading propaganda.

LinkedIn

Pinterest

This is the mecca for DIYers. Want to make a lip scrub? Check. Need Halloween party ideas? Check. You can explore over 100 billion pins for every part of your life, and create mood boards to look back on for inspiration.

Reddit

Twitter

Ah, the toxic armpit of the internet. Want to see what the US President is tweeting? How about Kim K or your favourite CNN anchor? It's all here, in real-time, with basically no filters in place. Bring on the alt-right trolls!

Travel and transportation

Airbnb

Google Maps

Google Maps is the only maps app you need. With over 220 countries and territories mapped and hundreds of millions of businesses and places on the map, you can get real-time GPS navigation, traffic, and accurate transit info.

Linea Sketch

Pigment

Those of you who love adult colouring books will want to use this digital version of those. Just 5 to 10 minutes of colouring can reportedly provide the same benefits as meditation, and help you practice mindfulness.

Affinity Photo

Adobe Illustrator Draw

If you’re a vector artist, this is your go-to app, with customisable brushes for drawing and designing. You can create on resizable canvases up to a delightfully printable 8K. And all your layered files can be sent right to Illustrator CC.

Shapr: 3D modeling CAD

Affinity Designer

And here is Affinity's version of Illustrator. It's a precise vector graphic design software that you can use to create graphics for marketing materials, websites, icons, UI design, cool concept art, and more.